Conwy

Conwy's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, health and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Conwy increased by 5.1%, from almost 110,000 to 115,000.

The addition of just over 5,600 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Conwy was home to, on average, 0.73 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Conwy

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Conwy increased by three years, from 43 to 46 years.

This coastal area had a slightly higher average age than Isle of Wight (one of the most statistically similar areas to Conwy based on ONS area classifications) (46 years of age) and the highest average age in Wales.

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 14% of people in Conwy are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Denbighshire and Conwy by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Conwy fell from 29% to 27% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 442 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 5,850.

In Denbighshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Conwy), 25% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 26% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was higher than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Conwy residents that were self-employed remained close to 11% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 45% in 2001. The percentage of Conwy residents that were unemployed increased from 3.7% to 4.1%.

The proportion of self-employed people fell at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's sixth highest proportion of self-employed people and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Conwy residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 3.0%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care fell at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's sixth lowest proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Conwy remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Denbighshire and Conwy by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Conwy

The number of people in Conwy that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 15,000 in 2001 to just over 30,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 26% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Wales (from 19% to 32%).

The number of people in Conwy that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 85,000 in 2001 to about 75,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 8,100 to just over 9,000 (from 7.4% to 7.8%).

About 580 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 270 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Conwy increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Denbighshire and Conwy by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Conwy residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. While the percentage of Conwy residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to nearby Denbighshire (which remained close 7.3%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Conwy decreased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Conwy, Denbighshire and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Conwy that rented privately increased from 13% to 17% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Conwy households that owned their home decreased from 73% to 69%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to nearby Denbighshire (which remained close 16%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 8.6% to 14%.

Private renting in Conwy increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Conwy, Denbighshire and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Conwy that were married decreased from 53% to 48% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Conwy that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 13%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to nearby Denbighshire (which remained close 48%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 52% to 47%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Conwy working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to nearby Denbighshire (which remained close 10%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12% to 9.3%.

Long hour working in Conwy decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Conwy, Denbighshire and Wales that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Conwy, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.2% to 9.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households had only one person, compared with 33% in 2001. The percentage of households in Conwy which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 33% to 30%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to nearby Denbighshire (which remained close 9.7%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 7.5% to 9.7%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Conwy increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Conwy, Denbighshire and Wales that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Conwy with children decreased from 26% to 24% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had no children remained close to 66%, while the percentage of households in Conwy with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.3% to 9.3%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to nearby Denbighshire (which remained close 27%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 30% to 28%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Disability in Conwy

The percentage of Conwy residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.3% to 5.0% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.9%, while the percentage of Conwy residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to nearby Denbighshire (which remained close 5.5%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 4.6% to 5.2%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

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